LOS ANGELES — Franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer has confirmed that Disney is in active discussions with Johnny Depp regarding a potential return to the Pirates of the Caribbean series, while industry reports indicate that Margot Robbie is set to anchor the upcoming sixth installment as its new lead protagonist.
Speaking at D23, Bruckheimer provided an update on the long-gestating project, noting that creative development is moving forward.
”We’re talking with Johnny, we’re working on a screenplay, and hopefully we can get this done,” Bruckheimer told reporters.
Evolving the Franchise Landscape
While previous iterations of the multi-billion-dollar franchise relied entirely on Depp’s portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow as the central anchor, sources close to production indicate that the next chapter will shift the primary narrative spotlight to Robbie’s character.
- Structural Shift: Under the reported creative direction, Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow is expected to transition into a supporting or side-character capacity, serving as a bridge between the legacy era and a fresh narrative trajectory.
- Development Convergence: The project brings together two separate development threads previously pursued by Disney: a female-fronted spinoff originally developed with Robbie and a broader franchise reboot. Producer statements indicate those concepts have since converged into a single comprehensive script.
Production Status and Next Steps
The multi-year effort to revive the high-seas adventure series has faced numerous iterations since the release of Dead Men Tell No Tales in 2017. Although Robbie was previously reported to have exited a standalone iteration of the project in 2022, subsequent updates from studio leadership confirmed her continued involvement.
Neither Disney nor representatives for Robbie have formally announced a definitive casting confirmation or a scheduled production timeline, as writers continue finalizing the screenplay for studio approval.
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